Stone holster for temperature maintenance

ABSTRACT

A holster, to be worn around the waist of a user, and capable of containing at least one heated object, for instance a stone, and at least one receptacle containing a fluid. The holster includes a thermally insulated portion and a thermally open portion, removable storage lining portions and a securing means for securing the holster to the waist of a user. The present invention allows a massage therapist or the like to regulate the temperature of a heated object, such as a stone, at an ideal temperature for application in their trade and to gain easy access to necessary liquids.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED ADPLICATION

[0001] This application claims benefit of priority of provisionalapplication Serial No. 60/442,899 Provisional application titled “StoneHolster” filed on Jun. 28, 2003 whose inventor was Ricardo Saikali.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates, generally, to an article ofequipment to be worn by a massage therapist or the like around theirwaist, outside of the remainder of their apparel. By means of theholster of the present invention, a user is able to store at least onereceptacle containing a liquid, and at least one heated object, such asa stone, each of which can be used in massage therapy. The heated stoneor object may be placed in a removable storage lining portion within athermally insulated portion of the holster, thereby maintaining thetemperature of the stone or object for an extended period.Alternatively, the stone or object can be placed in a removable storagelining portion within a non-insulated portion separate from thethermally insulated portion allowing the stone or object to cool to asuitable temperature prior to use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The use of liquids or fluids, such as oils, lotions, gels, andcreams, in massage therapy treatment is well known.

[0004] In recent years, there has been in increase in the popularity anduse of heated stones, a relatively new massage modality, as part of arelaxation or deep tissue focussed treatment. Prior to their use, thestone or stones must be heated to a temperature suitable for treatment.Once this temperature has been reached, it is desirable to have means tomaintain this temperature for a time, a means to allow for thetransportation of the stone or stones and a means to store the stone orstones until the eventual use during treatment.

[0005] In the past, it was required that the stone or stones be heatedto the desired temperature, and once removed from the heat source,applied in treatment before the stone or stones had begun to cool fromthe optimal temperature for the required treatment. Dependant upon theheat source used, the stone or stones may be too hot to place directlyon the skin and therefore were set aside on a counter or other locationto allow for a cooling period. The location may not always beconvenient. During a massage treatment session, the therapist will bemoving around the client and may not always be able to reach the counteror other location and would be required to step away from the patient toretrieve the stone or stones. Additionally, the therapist would havedifficulty monitoring the temperature and may miss the opportunity toutilize the stone or stones at the optimal temperature, therebyrequiring the heating process to be repeated.

[0006] Without a pouch suitable of holding the required number ofstones, the therapist may only be able to transport several stones at atime, necessitating numerous trips to the heat source or to the counteror to the any other storage location. These additional trips introducetime away from the treatment and patient, and reduce the effectivenessof treatment.

[0007] Additionally, due to Codes of Ethics and Standards of Practice aswell as Universal Precautions In Health Care Settings (ie. College ofMassage Therapists of Ontario, Canada; June 1999 Standard 1, page 23),all equipment used by a therapist should be cleaned and/or disinfectedaccording to the requirements of communicable disease control. In orderto be in accord with this and like standards, removable linings for thestorage areas of the holster are included.

[0008] General utility pouches, such as those found in U.S. Pat. No.2,922,165 (Krawczyk) and U.S. Pat. No. 2,263,538 (Freirich) allow forthe storage and transportation of stones and receptacles containingliquids, but fail to provide any insulation means to allow for themaintenance of temperature of the stones. They also fail to allow forremovable linings for cleaning and/or disinfecting.

[0009] Containers intended to allow for the storage and transportationof articles while thermally isolating said articles, such at those foundin U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,248 (Butler et al.) and Canadian Patent No.2,038,000 (Kouwenberg), do provide temperature maintenance, but fail toprovide a means to allow temperature to reduce until a desiredtemperature is achieved and the article is deployed. They also fail toallow for removable linings for cleaning and/or disinfecting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention relates to a holster, to be worn around thewaist of a user, and capable of containing at least one heated object,such as a stone, the holster comprising at least one thermally insulatedportion, at least one thermally open portion, and a securing means tosecure the holster around the waist of the user.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, theat least one thermally insulated portion and the at least one thermallyopen portion are removable and are fashioned from materials that aresuitable for repeated washing and/or disinfecting without deteriorating.

[0012] According to another preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, an additional area is provided in the holster to facilitatethe storage of a receptacle containing a liquid to be administeredduring a massage therapy session.

[0013] Advantageously, the holster is fashioned from material suitablefor articles of clothing such as leather, cloth, polyester, and canvas.This material may be utilized in a variety of thicknesses and colours.The thermally insulated portion is preferably fashioned from polyesterpocketed insulation material or reflective thermal material.

[0014] The securing means may comprise a belt having two ends, a buckledisposed at one end of the belt designed to interface with holessituated within the other end of the belt, so as to secure the beltaround the waist of a user. Alternatively, the securing means maycomprise a belt having two ends, one end of the belt comprising aplastic clip designed to interface with another plastic receptorsituated at the other end of the belt. Naturally, the securing means mayfurther comprise adjustment means that facilitates the adjustment of thelength of the belt of the securing means.

[0015] The thermally insulated portion advantageously includes a closingmeans, whereby the area can be entirely surrounded by insulatingmaterials and closed, whereby to assist in retaining the heat of thestone for an extended period of time.

[0016] A method of temperature maintenance of heated stones used inmassage therapy or the like is also provided, wherein a user decidesthat the heated stones initially require cooling, the stones are placedin a non-thermally insulated portion until such time as a desiredtemperature has been reached, the heated stones are transferred into athermally insulated portion and then isolated therein using a thermallyinsulated closure, thereby maintaining the temperature of the heatedstones.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a front view of the a first embodiment of a holsteraccording to the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a front view of the a second embodiment of a holsteraccording to the present invention; and

[0019]FIG. 3 is a front transparent view of the a removable portion ofthe holster according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The stone holster shown in FIG. 1 comprises a main holster backportion 8, a thermally insulated portion 6, a thermally insulatedclosure 7 for the thermally insulated portion, a non-thermally insulatedportion 5, and a receptacle storage area 4. Extending laterally fromeach side of the back portion 8 are a first belt portion 3 and a secondbelt portion 9.

[0021] A belt length adjustment means 2 is disposed in belt portion 3and first and second belt buckle elements 1 and 10 are located at theends of the belt portions 3 and 9, respectively. The first belt portion3 and the second belt portion 9 are secured to the main holster backportion 8. The length of the first belt portion 3 is adjusted via a beltlength adjustment means 2. The first belt portion 3 and the second beltportion 9 are positioned around the waist of an intended user and aresecured by inserting a first belt buckle element 1 into a second beltbuckle element 10.

[0022] The main holster back portion 8 is positioned to be worn in afrontal position by the intended user. In doing so, the user will haveaccess to the thermally insulated portion 6, the non-thermally insulatedportion 5, and the receptacle storage area 4. Each of the thermallyinsulated portion 6, the non-thermally insulated portion 5, and thereceptacle storage area 4 are open to the top to allow for items to beplaced downward into these portions.

[0023] One or more heated stones may be inserted into the thermallyinsulated portion 6 and then isolated therein using the thermallyinsulated closure 7, thereby maintaining the temperature of the heatedstones. If a user decides that the heated stones initially requirecooling, the stones may be placed in the non-thermally insulated portion5 until such time as the desired temperature has been reached. Theheated stones may then be transferred into the thermally insulatedportion 6 and then isolated therein using the thermally insulatedclosure 7, thereby maintaining the temperature of the heated stones.

[0024] A receptacle storage area 4 is provided to allow for thetransportation of and ease of access to a receptacle containing a fluidrequired during the administration of massage therapy or the like. Thisfluid may be an oil, lotion, gel, or cream.

[0025] A second embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIG. 2comprises a main holster back portion 8, a receptacle storage area 4, aremovable storage lining portion 5 a, a removable storage lining portion6 a, a first portion of a securing device 11 positioned near and aroundthe outside upper edge of portions 5 a and 6 a, a thermally open pocketarea 5, a thermally insulated pocket area 6, a second portion of asecuring device 11 a positioned near and around the upper edge ofpockets areas 5 and 6. The removable portions 5 a and 6 a slide intoportions 5 and 6 respectively from the top, and are then secured inplace by joining the two portions of the securing device 11 and 11A,after which the thermally insulated closure 7 may be used. Extendinglaterally from each side of the back portion 8 are a first belt portion3 and a second belt portion 9. A logo area 12 may optionally bepositioned on the front of the second pocket area 6.

[0026] A belt length adjustment means 2 is disposed in belt portion 3and first and second belt buckle elements 1 and 10 are located at theends of the belt portions 3 and 9, respectively. The first belt portion3 and the second belt portion 9 are secured to the main holster backportion 8. The length of the first belt portion 3 is adjusted via a beltlength adjustment means 2. The first belt portion 3 and the second beltportion 9 are positioned around the waist of an intended user and aresecured by inserting a first belt buckle element 1 into a second beltbuckle element 10.

[0027] The main holster back portion 8 is positioned to be worn in afrontal position by the intended user. In doing so, the user will haveaccess to the first pocket portion 5, the second pocket portion 6, andthe receptacle storage area 4. Each of the first pocket portion 5, thesecond pocket portion 13, and the receptacle storage area 4 are open tothe top and allow for items to be placed downward into these portions.

[0028] Container portions 5 a and 6 a are removable in order to allowreplacement, once soiled or worn out, with cleansed/disinfected newportions 5 a and 6 a to be used for each new client. This allows thedevice to meet up with the legal regulations and ethics standards ofcleanliness in the field of massage therapy.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, a removable storage lining portion 5 a and aremovable storage lining portion 6 a comprises a first portion of asecuring device 11 positioned near and around the outside upper edge ofportions 5 a and 6 a and may contain one or more heated objects 13, suchas stones.

I claim:
 1. A wearable holster, capable of containing at least oneheated object, said holster comprising a main back portion, at least onethermally insulated portion, at least one thermally open portion, and asecuring means to secure the holster around the waist of the user.
 2. Awearable holster according to claim 1, wherein said at least onethermally insulated portion includes a removable lining.
 3. A wearableholster according to claim 1, wherein said at least one thermally openportion includes a removable lining.
 4. A wearable holster according toclaim 2 wherein said at least one thermally open portion includes aremovable lining.
 5. A wearable holster according to claim 1, whereinsaid at least one heated object is a stone suitable for use in massagetherapy.
 6. A wearable holster according to claim 2, wherein said atleast one heated object is a stone suitable for use in massage therapy.7. A wearable holster according to claim 3, wherein said at least oneheated object is a stone suitable for use in massage therapy.
 8. Awearable holster according to claim 4, wherein said at least one heatedobject is a stone suitable for use in massage therapy.
 9. A wearableholster according to claim 1, wherein said securing means is a beltcomprising an adjustment means, capable of adjusting the length of saidbelt, and a buckle to secure said belt.
 10. A wearable holster accordingto claim 2, wherein said securing means is a belt comprising anadjustment means, capable of adjusting the length of said belt, and abuckle to secure said belt.
 11. A wearable holster according to claim 3,wherein said securing means is a belt comprising an adjustment means,capable of adjusting the length of said belt, and a buckle to securesaid belt.
 12. A wearable holster according to claim 5, wherein saidsecuring means is a belt comprising an adjustment means, capable ofadjusting the length of said belt, and a buckle to secure said belt. 13.A wearable holster according to claim 1, wherein said wearable holsterfurther comprising a storage portion capable of storing a receptaclecontaining liquids used for massage therapy, said receptacle being asuitable size to administer the contained fluid using a single hand. 14.A wearable holster according to claim 2, wherein said wearable holsterfurther comprising a storage portion capable of storing a receptaclecontaining liquids used for massage therapy, said receptacle being asuitable size to administer the contained fluid using a single hand. 15.A wearable holster according to claim 3, wherein said wearable holsterfurther comprising a storage portion capable of storing a receptaclecontaining liquids used for massage therapy, said receptacle being asuitable size to administer the contained fluid using a single hand. 16.A wearable holster according to claim 5, wherein said wearable holsterfurther comprising a storage portion capable of storing a receptaclecontaining liquids used for massage therapy, said receptacle being asuitable size to administer the contained fluid using a single hand. 17.A wearable holster according to claim 9, wherein said wearable holsterfurther comprising a storage portion capable of storing a receptaclecontaining liquids used for massage therapy, said receptacle being asuitable size to administer the contained fluid using a single hand. 18.A method of controlling and maintaining temperature of heated stones foruse in massage therapy, wherein said stones are stored in a wearableholster according to claim 1, and wherein said stones are held in the atleast one thermally open portion should a lower temperature be preferredand held in the at least one thermally insulated portion should currenttemperature maintenance be desired.
 19. A method of controlling andmaintaining temperature of heated stones for use in massage therapy,wherein said stones are stored in a wearable holster according to claim2, and wherein said stones are held in the at least one thermally openportion should a lower temperature be preferred and held in the at leastone thermally insulated portion should current temperature maintenancebe desired.
 20. A method of controlling and maintaining temperature ofheated stones for use in massage therapy, wherein said stones are storedin a wearable holster according to claim 5, and wherein said stones areheld in the at least one thermally open portion should a lowertemperature be preferred and held in the at least one thermallyinsulated portion should current temperature maintenance be desired.